India is to provide a dedicated commando squad to protect its wealthiest man,
Mukesh Ambani, amid fears that he may be targeted by terrorists.

India's Ministry of Home Affairs decided it would dispatch between 26 and 27 members of its elite paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force to guard Mr Ambani at his $1 billion [£650 million] private skyscraper Antilia, which dominates the Mumbai skyline, after threats from the Indian Mujahideen terrorist group.

Mr Ambani is India's wealthiest man, the 22nd richest man in the world, with a personal fortune of $21.5 billion. He inherited control of India's largest company from his father Dhirubhai, who had built it from humble beginnings in Aden where he worked as a petrol pump attendant. He is said to have made his first fortune by melting down Yemeni coins and selling them for their higher scrap value.

He later became known as the 'Polyester Prince' after he created India's largest man-made fibre company. Today Reliance Industries Limited dominates the country's oil and gas industries, has major interests in telecommunications and the world's largest oil refinery.

Despite Mr Ambani's own considerable resources, the Indian government regards his economic influence to be a vital national interest and has decided to protect it from the terrorist threat.

"We are confirming that we are providing security at the direction of the home ministry. He [Mukesh Ambani] will be charged 15 lakhs [£18,000] per month," said a spokesman for the Central Reserve Police Force.

The decision was denounced by opposition leaders and women's rights campaigners who said it was insensitive at a time when the government was not able to protect women and children from rapes and sexual assaults. It emerged as protestors mounted demonstrations throughout the capital over the kidnap and rape of a five-year-old girl and the police refusal to search for her.

India's understaffed police and internal security forces have been criticised since the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old Delhi student last December from campaigners and opposition leaders who say too many officers are deputed as personal security for VIPs and too little care is given to protecting ordinary people.

AB Bhardhan, Communist Party of India leader, said the decision showed the government cared more for its billionaire elite than its ordinary people. "[at a time when the] police force is unable to provide security to its citizens, ensure safety for women, and even four or five-year-old girl children are raped under their very nose, the government has ordered security for the country's richest corporate tycoon Mukesh Ambani.

"It is matter of shame for this government and shows for whom it works. Mukesh Ambani has all the resources at his command to provide security for himself and his establishment."

Leading lawyer and women's rights campaigner Vrinda Grover said India's police were already too understaffed to protect ordinary people. "We don't have enough to protect people, but we give it to one man," she said.